Standing Ovation - Deloitte Senior Partners Conference

12 November 2013

Taking fifty Deloitte volunteers, a 'can do' attitude and a sensational event, Deloitte opened their Senior Partners Conference to a standing ovation.

Background

In their own words, Deloitte is “the brand under which tens of thousands of dedicated professionals in independent firms throughout the world collaborate to provide audit, consulting, financial advisory, risk management, and tax services to selected clients”. One of the ‘Big 4’ professional services firms, Deloitte recruits some of the world’s most sought after talent and continues to grow from success to success.

egi:live communication specialise in providing bespoke strategic events for leaders of global companies. With 20 years experience, they help ambitious, multi-national companies to achieve exceptional and sustainable growth by creating an environment in which they can share knowledge and aspirations and take their company strategy forwards.

Choosing Catalyst and Orchestrate!

egi:live, in conjunction with Deloitte, approached Catalyst looking for a live performance with which to open the Deloitte Senior Partner Conference. The event needed to reflect Deloitte’s key values and highlight their ‘can do’ attitude.

A unique and tailored, surprise version of Orchestrate! was the perfect solution.

On the day

The night before the Senior Partners Conference was due to start, fifty Deloitte volunteers arrived at their hotel for a surprise briefing. Not knowing what to expect, they gathered in the bar, whilst next door a group of professional musicians and fifty orchestral instruments awaited them.

The doors were swung back and the conductor explained that the volunteers would be opening the Senior Partners Conference the next day with a symphonic performance of their very own!

Using our tried and tested Orchestrate! format, the volunteers worked hard over the next two hours to achieve a polished end result. During their transformation from budding protégés to real life symphony orchestra, egi:live were on hand to capture the volunteers' emotions on film and record short, vox pops interviews.

Next morning, following a final run through and dress rehearsal, the stage was set. Once the Senior Partners' delegates were seated, an opening video outlined the challenge we had set. The orchestra was then welcomed on stage and silence fell as the conductor tapped his baton. In front of 700 people – their bosses! – the volunteers gave a seamless performance and finished to a standing ovation.